Tendulkar too good as India romp home

An unbeaten 163 by Sachin Tendulkar led India to a comprehensive 58-run win over New Zealand in the third one-day international here Sunday and ensured they cannot lose the series.

Tendulkar, utilising his full array of textbook and improvised shots, was the stand-out figure as India scored 392 for four after being sent into bat first.

It was the highest international ODI score against New Zealand, but the Black Caps were on target to overhaul it when they reached 166 without loss before the middle order self-destructed and they were all out for 334.

The win, completed in 45.1 overs, gave India an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series with only two matches remaining.

New Zealand had reason to think luck was on their side when they won the toss and had an early success with the dismissal of Virender Sehwag, India's dangerman in their previous matches, for only three.

Gautam Gambhir followed for 15 and India were two for 65 in the 13th over when India stepped up to a level New Zealand had no answer for.

Yuvraj Singh joined the imperious Tendulkar and they piled on 138 in 16.4 overs for the third wicket.

During the batting power play they added 69 runs with overs of 13, 13, 12, 17 and 14, propelling India from 105 after 20 overs to 206 after 30.

Yuvraj kept his running to a minimum, with 10 boundaries and six sixes in his 87 which came off only 60 balls.

On a ground with short boundaries, the Indian innings produced 18 sixes in all, equalling the world record for an international innings, and New Zealand added 13 to set a record 31 sixes in a match.

Tendulkar contributed five of them and also clouted 16 fours with his 163 coming from 133 balls, before he retired hurt with a pulled stomach muscle in the 45th over, leaving the field to a standing ovation.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the scorers busy as he cracked 68 from 58 deliveries to continue the destruction of the New Zealand bowlers.

The 20-year-old New Zealand quick Tim Southee went for a humbling none for 105 off 10 overs.

The most successful of the New Zealand bowlers was Kyle Mills with two for 58, while Jacob Oram took none for 34 off eight.

Faced with a mammoth total and an asking rate of 7.86 per over, New Zealand had no choice but to attack from the start and Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder raced to 166 by the 22nd over before the innings fell apart.

Ryder pushed the ball to Suresh Raina, who had not been comfortable out in the field, but this time he fired a return straight back to wicketkeeper Dhoni and McCullum was run out for 71.

Ross Taylor made seven before stepping out of his crease seeking a possible leg bye, whereupon he was run out by a perfect shy at the stumps from Yuvraj.

The Indian fielding, which had seen Ryder dropped on 43 and McCullum let off on 38, was suddenly on song.

When Martin Guptill fell leg before wicket to Yuvraj, New Zealand were 182 for three with the wickets falling in 21 balls.

Ryder posted his first ODI century before playing a half-hearted shot and was caught by Zaheer Khan off Harbhajan Singh for 105, including 12 boundaries and four sixes.

But there was no other New Zealand innings of note until bowlers Mills and Southee came together at 251 for eight and restored a little pride after the pasting they took with the ball.

Mills cracked 54 and Southee 32 before they fell in successive balls to end the game.